the experience of reading in Britain, from 1450 to 1945...

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Rosamund Wallis : [paper on Anglo-India and Forster]

'The subject of Forster's "A Passage to India" was then taken Rosamund Wallis reading a notable paper on the problem of Anglo-India with citations from the book. F.E. Pollard followed giving more the Indian Attitude with a reading to explain this. After an interval for Refreshments there was an interesting discussion on these papers and on the Book and its problems. R.B. Graham read a good portion of the trial scene and Miss Marriage read a part of the last chapter bringing a most interesting evening to a conclusion leaving us more than doubtful as to how far we had fathomed the author's purpose & ideas.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Rosamund Wallis      Manuscript: Unknown

Rosamund Wallis : Some Thoughts on Racing

'Various anonymous essays by members of the Club were then read with the following titles and at the conclusion of the meeting whilst the authorship of some was quickly acclaimed others proved very difficult to locate. Some thoughts on Racing attributed to R. Wallis One Generation & the next or Jobson on False Freedom C.E. Stansfield Intimations of Immortality R.H. Robson The Lady of the Marsh Mrs R.B. Graham If Christianity had Won R.B. Graham The Revolt of the Innocents Geo Burrow Thoughts on the Construction of Cathedrals H.M. Wallis Revenge or Justice C Evans Five minutes Thoughts upon present Condition H.M. Wallis A Scandalous Affair [illegible symbol]'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: members of XII Book Club     Manuscript: Unknown

Rosamund Wallis : [a biographical essay on André Maurois, up to 1939]

'Meeting held at “Oakdene”, Northcourt Avenue. 14.2.44
    S. A. Reynolds in the chair.

[...]

2. The minutes of the last meeting were read and signed.

[...]

5. After an interval for refreshment we turned our thoughts to the Study of the Life and Works of André Maurois, which proved to be a subject of absorbing interest. Rosamund Wallis was his Biographer up to the time of the outbreak of this war — her chief source of information being Maurois’ autobiography “Call no man happy” from which she read several extracts. She revealed to us the child Emil Hertzog, born an Alsatian Jew & brought up in the sheltered atmosphere of French family life. Brilliantly successful at school, in business, as a soldier and under the name of André Maurois as a writer. Success was his easily and immediately for allied to his native genius was an infinite capacity for hard work.

6. Readings from Maurois’s works were given as follows:-
    Howard Smith from ‘The Silence of Colonel Bramble’
    Isabel Taylor [from] Ariel
    F. E. Pollard [from] Disraeli
    Frank Knight [from] Byron
    Knox Taylor [from] History of England
Maurois has been very fortunate in his translators and all the readings were much enjoyed. Colonel Bramble was his first book & remains the most widely read & generally acclaimed of them all. ‘Ariel’ his life of Shelley gained him a reputation for writing ‘Romanticized Biography’ which he resented and tried to counteract in his lives of Byron and Disraeli. The general opinion of the Book Club was that he writes always with more charm and wit than accuracy & Knox Taylor’s criticism of the ‘History of England[’] was that in trying to give a general impression without much detail, Maurois has picked out the wrong details and therefore gives the wrong impression.

7. Kenneth Nicholson then continued the story of Maurois’ life up to the present day, when he is living in America with his wife, while their children remain in France.

[signed as a true record by] J. Knox Taylor 13/3/44.'

Century: 1900-1945     Reader/Listener/Group: Rosamund Wallis      Manuscript: Unknown

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